Robotics & Autonomy

Robotics & Autonomous Vehicle Battery Packs | EVolve Battery Systems

EVolve Battery Systems manufactures lithium-ion battery packs for ground robotics, autonomous ground vehicles (AGVs), mobile manipulation platforms, legged robots, and unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs). Robotics battery requirements differ from stationary or aerospace applications in one critical way: the combination of compact physical envelope, wide voltage range, burst current demand, and communication integration must all be satisfied simultaneously. EVolve NMC chemistry delivers higher gravimetric energy density than LFP, which matters when every kilogram of battery mass reduces payload or endurance. Voltage configurations from 24V to 200V. CAN bus BMS interface is standard. All systems manufactured in Boulder, Colorado, USA.

What robotics platforms does EVolve support?

Autonomous Ground Vehicles (AGV/AMR)

Battery packs for factory-floor autonomous mobile robots and automated guided vehicles. Sustained 4–24 hr operation cycles, high daily charge cycle counts (1–3 cycles/day), opportunity-charging compatibility.

Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGV)

Power systems for military-derived and commercial UGVs. Ruggedized enclosures with MIL-spec connectors, high-shock tolerance, and wide temperature operation (-20°C to +55°C).

Legged & Wheeled Research Robots

Compact, low-weight battery packs for quadruped and humanoid research platforms. High burst discharge for rapid leg actuation, CAN bus telemetry for runtime state monitoring.

Mobile Manipulation Platforms

Battery systems for robotic arms on mobile bases. Combines traction battery load with high-peak manipulation loads; EVolve can design for dual-load profiles within a single pack architecture.

Inspection & Survey Robots

Long-endurance battery packs for pipeline inspection robots, industrial inspection crawlers, and survey platforms where runtime maximization is the primary constraint.

Exoskeletons & Wearable Robotics

Wearable battery packs for exoskeleton and powered orthotic applications. Low weight, body-conforming packaging, and safe discharge chemistry required; discuss geometry constraints in RFQ.

What voltage and capacity ranges apply to robotics?

Robotics voltage requirements are driven by motor controller input specifications. Most robotics and AGV motor controllers accept 24V, 36V, 48V, or 72V bus voltages. Higher-voltage platforms (e.g., larger UGVs and mobile manipulation systems) operate at 96V–200V. EVolve MonoLith systems configure to any of these voltages through series cell count selection.

Platform TypeNominal VoltageTypical CapacityNotes
Small AMR / research robot24V – 48V1 – 5 kWhWeight-critical; max energy density priority
Mid-size AGV / UGV48V – 96V5 – 20 kWh4–8 hr operation; single or dual shift
Large UGV / mobile manipulator96V – 200V15 – 60 kWhHigh peak draw for manipulation joints
Exoskeleton / wearable24V – 48V0.5 – 2 kWhGeometry-constrained; discuss shape in RFQ

Discharge rate requirements for robotics are often non-obvious. A 48V / 5 kWh AGV traction battery drawing 50A continuous requires 2.4C, which is manageable with standard NMC. A mobile manipulation arm with 200A peak draw at 48V requires 9.6C peak from the same pack, which demands specific cell selection and busbar sizing. Specify peak and continuous current requirements, not just capacity, in your RFQ.

How does EVolve optimize size and weight for robotics?

Robotics applications impose tight physical constraints. Battery mass directly reduces payload and endurance; battery volume competes with sensors, actuators, and structure. EVolve addresses this through:

  • NMC chemistry selection: 200-260 Wh/kg cell energy density, higher than LFP (140-180 Wh/kg); directly reduces pack mass for a given capacity requirement
  • Structural enclosure design: 6061-T6 aluminum enclosures designed to the minimum wall thickness that meets structural requirements; mass is budgeted, not padded
  • Custom form factors: Cell arrangements and enclosure geometry designed to the available space in the robot chassis; irregular shapes accommodated
  • Cylindrical 21700 cell format: Higher energy density than 18650 in the same cell format; efficient packing in rectangular enclosures
  • Center-of-mass optimization: Cell arrangement can be adjusted to place mass in the lowest, most central position in the chassis, improving stability

Provide a mechanical envelope drawing (STEP or DXF) and mass budget in your RFQ. EVolve will return a fit-check confirming achievable capacity within the given envelope and estimated pack mass.

What communication interfaces are available for robotics integration?

Robotics systems require real-time battery state information for safe operation. The custom BMS (standard in MonoLith systems) exposes:

  • CAN bus (CAN 2.0B): Real-time SOC, pack voltage, pack current, cell temperature, fault status, estimated remaining runtime. Standard CAN DBC file provided.
  • Relay/contactor control outputs: Main contactor, pre-charge contactor, and charge contactor managed by BMS; compatible with robot-side interlock circuits
  • Fault output lines: Discrete fault signal outputs for integration with robot E-stop and safety system architectures
  • RS-232 / USB diagnostics: Direct BMS parameter logging and configuration via custom BMS software

ROS (Robot Operating System) integration is common in research and commercial robotics. EVolve does not ship ROS drivers, but CAN-to-USB adapters (Kvaser, PEAK, or CANable) enable straightforward CAN bus integration with ROS can_msgs and diagnostic_msgs packages. Customer-side ROS driver development is documented in the BMS ICD.

Specify your robot OS, motor controller CAN network topology, and required CAN message update rates in the RFQ. EVolve can configure custom BMS CAN transmission parameters to match your existing network.

What production volumes does EVolve support for robotics programs?

Robotics programs often progress from single prototype units through small pre-production batches to larger production runs as platforms scale. EVolve supports this ramp:

Prototype
1–5 units

Full engineering support; STEP CAD and ICD provided; first article inspection.

Pre-Production
5–50 units

Production fixtures established; build documentation locked; ATP testing per unit.

Production
50+ units/year

Volume pricing; dedicated production slots; ongoing quality records.

Lead times for prototype robotics battery packs are typically 6–12 weeks from signed purchase order and completed electrical and mechanical interface definition. Repeat orders run 4–8 weeks once production tooling is established.

What temperature and shock specifications apply?

Robotics environments range from climate-controlled factory floors to outdoor field deployments. Standard EVolve MonoLith operational specifications:

ParameterStandard SpecNotes
Operating temp (discharge)-20°C to +55°CBMS thermal cutoffs programmable within range
Operating temp (charge)0°C to +45°CLow-temp charge lockout standard for cell protection
Storage temp-30°C to +60°C at ~50% SOCExtended storage protocol per battery management guide
VibrationPer IEC 62619 / program-specificField robot applications; specify vibration PSD in RFQ
ShockProgram-specificDrop and impact tests available; specify in RFQ
IP ratingStandard: unrated; upgradeableIP65/IP67 available; specify sealing requirements

Field robotics applications (outdoor UGVs, inspection robots) should specify operational environment conditions, including dust, moisture, temperature range, and mechanical shock profile, in the RFQ. EVolve will design enclosure protection and mechanical mounting to match the deployment environment.

How do I start a robotics battery project with EVolve?

01
Define Requirements

Provide platform type, voltage bus, capacity target, mass and volume budget, current profile (peak and continuous), communication interface requirements, and deployment environment.

02
Fit-Check

EVolve reviews for in-catalog fit or custom configuration requirements within 2–5 business days. STEP CAD and electrical ICD provided on contract.

03
Delivery & Integration

6–12 weeks for first-article prototype. Complete documentation package includes CAN DBC, electrical ICD, and integration guide.